Commutator segment and method of producing the same



C. A. VAN DUSEN COMMUTATOR SEGMENT AND METHOD OF PRODUCING THE SAME June 5, 1923. 1,457,801

Filed July 2. 1921 Patented June 5, .1923.

*UNITED STATES 1,457,801 PATENT OFFICE CHARLES A. VAN DUSEN, OI TOTIEDO, OHIO. ASSIGNOR TO THE TOLEDO STANDARD COMMUTATOR COMPANY, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

COHMUTATOR SEGMENT AND METHOD OF PRODUCING THE SAME.

Application filed July 2,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES A. VAN DUSEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Toledo, in the county of Lucas and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in commutator Segments and Methods of Producing the Same, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to an improved form of commutator segment, and to the method of producing the same, the principal object of the invention being to reduce the cost of manufacturing segments by eliminating all waste of material.

Further the invention aims to provide a segment adapted particularly for small commutators, and from which exceptionally good commutators can be produced.

Commutator segments are generally produced at the present time by punchingthem from previously rolled copper bars or strips.

This method naturally involves the waste of considerable material, and it is this waste which is eliminated by the present improved method wherein a bar of special shape is out into sections or lengths equal to the lengths of the segments, and the sections are then formed into completed-commutator segments by peening' or striking up tongues from one face thereof, to form the segment tangl.

The invention may be brieflly summarized as consisting in certain nove steps of the improved method, and in certain details of the improved segment which will be described in the s cification and set forth in the ap ended c aims.

In t e accompanying sheet of drawings, Fig. 1 is a perspective View of the bar, which is cut into sections to form the segment blanks, the preferred shape of the bar bein here shown; Fig. 2 is a perspective view 0 one of the sections or blanks before the tangs are formed; Fig. 3 is a sectional view illustrating conventionally, one way in which the tangs can be struck up from the lower face of the segment or blank; Fig. 4 is a perspective'view of the formed'segment; Fig. 5 is an end view of the same; and Fig. 6 is a view partly in section and partl in elevation of-a commutator composed o a suitable holder and segments involving the present invention.

, Referring now to the drawings, in Fig. 1 I

1921. Serial No. 482,289.

have shown at 10 a bar which can be used effectively in carrying out the present invention. This bar is preferably rolled to a s(pe-. cial shape, and as here shown, is provi ed on one side with an arc-shaped face 10 corresponding to the cylindrical curvature of the commutator to be formed. This bar is also provided with tapered edges 10 and with a grooved face 10 opposite the arcshaped surface or face 10. This grooved face 10 is formed in this instanceby beads or ridges along the sides of the narrower face, but this last mentioned feature is not at all essential to the invention. However, this shape of the bar, and particularly the grooved narrower face 10 makes it possible for the metal to flow inwardly, and greatly relieves the forming tools from pressure toward the outside, that is to say, the shape of the bar, herein illustrated, reduces the wear on the tang forming tools.

Next this bar is cut into sections or segment blanks; one of which I have shown at 11 in Fig. 2. This can be done with a suitable die and reciprocating punch or plunger.

In the next step of the process, tangs are formed on the relatively narrow face 10 of theblank by causing the metal to be eened or struck up at an angle to the axis or ength of the blank, so as to form tangs or tongues and V-shaped notches at the ends of the blank. One way in which this can be done is illustrated in a simplified mannerin Fi 3, wherein 12 represents a rotary holder 1n which the blank is carried, and 13 represents two oppositely disposed tang forming tools mounted in holders 14, and movable axially of the blank toward opposite ends thereof so that when they simultaneously engage the opposite ends of the blank they peen or strike up the tang forming tongues. Preferably the blank carrier 12 is in the form of a rotary member which at its periphery receives the blanks 11 as fast as they are cut from the bar 10, and by the indexing of the holder carries the blanks from the punch and die which cuts the bar into sections into line with the tang forming tools '13. owever, the present invention is not limited to this or any other type of machine for forming the blanks into the segments.

This produces a segment such as shown at 15 in Fig. 4, the segment having a curved brush engaging face 15, and opposite this face thetang forming portions 15 with V-shaped notches 15 in the ends of the segment- In Fig. 5 I have shown a completed commutator including a segment holder 16, carrying the segments 15 which are arranged in cylindrical formation in the usual manner, the segments being separated from the holder by a suitable insulation 17. In this instance the holder is formed in one piece, and is provided at its ends with segment clamping flanges 16 which engage in the V-shaped notches 15 of the segments. Any other suitable holder, however, may be utilized.

It will be seen that by this method commutator segments can be formed inexpensively, and that in forming them there is no waste or scrap material. At the same time the tangs which are struck up from the body of the blank are rigid and form very good tangs on which the holder may be clamped to hold the segments in place to produce a solid and rigid commutator.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. The method of forming a commutator segment which comprises peening or striking up tang forming tongues on one side of a blank.

2. The method of forming a commutator segment which comprises forming V-shapednotches in opposite ends'of a straight blank .and at the same time lifting up tang formsegments which comprises cutting a bar into lengths so as to form segment blanks, and striking up tang forming tongues on one side of each blank.

5. The method of forming commutator segments which comprises cutting a tapered bar into lengths so as to form segment blanks, and displacing portions on the narrower side of each blank so as to form angularly disposed tang forming portions.

(5. The method of forming commutator segments which comprises cutting into lengths a tapered bar curved on its relatively wide face, and striking up tang forming tongues on the relatively narrow face.

7. The method of forming commutator segments which comprises cutting into lengths a tapered bar having a relatively wide curved face and a relatively narrow grooved face, and striking up tang forming portions on the relatively narrow grooved face of each blank.

8. A commutatorsegment composed of a tapered body having on its relatively nar row face a pairot' tang forming tongues conssting of portions of the body bent at an angle to the length of the body.

9. A commutator segment having two tapered sides, a relatively wide curved face, and tangs formed on the relatively narrow .face, said tang-s consisting of bent portions of the segment extending diagonally downward and outward from the middle portion of the narrow face.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto aflix my signature.

CHARLES A. VAN DUSEN. 

